Our rights as citizens are now under attack

Graham Hughes/Canadian Press

The Canadian Bar Association is challenging the federal government on its contentious proposed anti-terror legislation, asking whether Bill C-51 is striking a proper balance between managing risk and safeguarding the privacy rights of Canadian citizens. The bill threatens balance between risk and privacy and would provide intelligence agencies and police with more power. Allowing agencies such as CSIS and the RCMP to share information.

This comes on the heels of the federal government investing $75 million in the development of next-generation surveillance technology. The investment will support research and development of “new high-tech air, land and sea surveillance cameras and sensors that are essential to Canada’s defence, security, and search and rescue operations.”

Expert criticism of the bill is focused on the broad wording of what constitutes a national security threat, with many aboriginal and environmental groups worried that the law will place them within the confines of being considered a terrorist organization. Prime Minister Harper added that his government doesn’t “buy the argument that every time you protect Canadians, you take away their liberties.”